Electric switch



Nov. 2, 192e. Y Y 1,505,353

C. R. KRONE ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed March 22, 1926 gwuz'nto 77 CARL R /fRoA/E 67 57 Patented Nov. 2, 1926.

UNITED; STATES CARL RUDOLPH KRONE, OF OAKLANB, CALIFGRNIA.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed March 22, 1926.

L vehicle, when it is pursuing a course straight ahead or one deviating to the right or lett. lilith the foregoing objects in view, together with such others as may subsequently appear, this invention resides in theconstruction and cooperation oit parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view ot my improved pinion gear contact yswitch mechanism in cooperation with the usual steering apparatus of a motor vehicle, which is pursuing a straight ahead course;v

Figure2 is a plan view of my switch partly broken away, and of the correlated parts, members and attachments outside ot the casing, as they appear when thevsteering wheel is turned sutiiciently to .effect a deviation to the right from the straight ahead course ot' the vehicle;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3 3 oi Figure 2 but thesteering wheel returned to straight ahead position in agreementwith Figure 1, the line 3-3 indicating the horizontal projection of the main plane ot symmetry of the system;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a switch` ing member employed in my device; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a member adapted to actuate the switching member shown in Figure 4. y

Referring to the drawings tor a description thereof, the numeral 7 indicates a flat columnar switch casing provided with a cover 8, both of insulating materia-l, and f both symmetrically disposed to line 3-3.

The casing 7 is secured to the housing 10 by a looped strap 11, and a grooved band 11 having a central aperture 11, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The looped ends 12 of the strap 11 are hooked to the U-shaped loops 13, which are secured to the rim of the casing. A pin 17 issues from an aperture 7 and a grooved portion 7 ot the rim, to pass through the aperture 11, and through an aperture 10 of the housing 10, as shown in Figure 3. A bolt 16 passing Serial No. 96,580.

along the groove 7, engages an aperture .17 of pin 17 and two perforations 15 of the strap 11. Nuts 16 are threaded on the bolt 16 and provided for tightening the strap 1l.

. An electrically conducting internal gear, comprising a plurality ot spaced, insulated segments 21, 22, 23 and 24, is secured to the tioor and the tubular walls of the casing. An electrically conducting wire is connected to each ot the segments 22, 23 and 24, and segment 23 is a live segment, while segments 22 and 24 are contact segments adapted to be connected with a signalling device. The smallest segment 21 lies across the rim trom the pin 17, the largest segment 23 lies diagonally across trom segment 21. i

A metallic plate 18 lies centrally upon the floor of the casing and electrically connects the segments 23 and 21, by means ot integral, material extensions, as live members.

Three pivoted, metallic pinions 35, 36 and 37 lie in meshV with the segments 21 and 23 respectively, and with iiat contact upon the plate 18, with freedom of motion thereon and upon the extensions ot the same.

Two short pins, rising from the segments 22 and 24 at the positions 26 and 28 `respectively, are adapted to restrict the pinion 35 from progress beyond the segments 22 and 24.

l metallic drive gear 29, iixedly mounted on an insulating pin 31, lies on the plate 18 with freedom of motion thereon. The drive gear 29 is adapted to mesh with the pinions 35, 36 and 37. i

A metallic trame plate 30 is provided with apertures 40. spaced on a circle and adapted to rotatably confine the pivots of the pinions, and also provided with a central aperture 31, adapted to rotatably contine the pin 31 ot the drive gear. The trame plate 30 .functions to adjust the pitch line oit the combined pinions 35, 36 and 37 to the pitch line of the internal gear, and to hold thepinions at optimal distance from the drive gear. A peripheral extension 33 ot the plate 30 is adapted `to` engage the short pins at the positions 26 andv 23 and to effect the restriction ot the pinion 35 to pass beyond'the segments 22 and 24 respectively.

The casing 7 has a recess 42 and the segf ment 23 has an opposing recess 43. A coiled compression spring 44 lies 1n these recesses; the inner end of the spring exerts presllO sure on a vertical portion 45 of a horizontal member 47, Which is freely mounted on the pin 3l and in a groove 48 of the cover 8 of the casing 7. The coiled spring 44 presses the member 47 against the pin 31,' Which presses the frame plate 30 against the pivots 40 o'll the pinions. Consequently one pinion 35 is pressed against ,one segment 21.01'

or 24 distally and another 36 or 37 against the segment- .,3 proximally.

Above ,the cover 8 and upon fthe ,terminal portion of the insulating pin 3l, protruding therefigom, provision must ,be made -for securing and conveniently detaching the switching ,member 50, as shown in Figure 4, by prox/'iding au aperture through which the insulating pin 3l extends, andpassing a locking pin'52, as shown in Figure 3, throngh'an aperture 5,3 of the member 5() and through an aperture in the pin 3l.

The member 50presents peripherally converging sides, rounded at the localities 54, an@` bears a broad, arcuate, `transverse slot on its under surface, one arc 56 of which is convex and the other aro 60 is concave and rounded at its end portions 58 and 59.

The axis of eachlarc is the axis of the steering vvheel 6.

An ,actuating member 62, shown in Figure 5, is rotatably mounted upon the housing 1,0 of the steering ,column immediately above the retaining strap ll by means of a lflat ring 65. Integral with the ring 65 the arcuate plate is adapted to ride upon the strap The projections 67 and 68 arise from the ring (S5 and are adapted to firmly engage the slots 67 and 6 8 `of the tubular en d portion 77 of the steering Wheel 6. Vert-ical projections 73, 74 and 75 arise from the plate 70 and are adapted to rota-tably engage the peripheral end portions of the member 50. The plate 70 extends between the member 50 and the cover 8 of the casing, loosely adjacent to both. TheV pro- Y jection extends into the concentric slot 55 and freely rotatable therein, as shown in Figure 3. The projections 73 and 74, at angles of lenience disposed as to the plane 3 3, Vare adapted to engage the vertical sides and rounded end portions v54. An arcuate band 64 projects vertically from the ring and is adapted to embrace the tubular end portion 77 of the steering Wheel 6 and to support the projections 68, 73 and "L1-f A11 the numbered Plates and proie@- tions of the member 65 'must revolve With the steering Wheel 6 around the common axis of the steering Wheel 6 of the steering apparatus of a in otor vehicle. i

The looped strap 11 and the complementary band 11 are held, against rotary and vertical displacement upon the housing 10, by the pin y17 and the bolt 16, and hold the @faire 7, ,against rotary and vertical displacement upon the housing 1 0, and vertical to the common axis of the steering column and perpendicular to the common plane oi symmetry projected in the line 3 3.

The specified construction and interaction of parts completes a mechanism for operating pinion gear contact electric switch, adapted to connect and disconnect diiierent `sections of an internal gear, by the steering Wheel as it is practically in use for direct- .ing a motor vehicle.

."hen the steering Wheel is `turned to the right the projection 74 approaches the incinbcr 50, and projection 75 emerges to the right or' it Without having touched it.

When the steering Wheel is turned to the left the projection 7 3 approaches the member 50, vand projection 75 emerges to the left of it Without having touched it.

Short turns of the wheel are necessary for the rounding of curves .or when passing vehicles, and require no signals. The angle of lenience is different tor different models oi" ino/tor vehicles but should be the angle at which the projections 73 yand 74 stand to the line 3 i3- of the plane of symmetry oi the member 62.

It the steering Wheel passes the angle oi' len ience the projection 74 impinges upon the presenting side rand the portion 54 .of the nieniber 50, and the pinion 35 makes contact with the segment-.24 ot theV internal gear, as shown in Figure 2. The coiled spring 44 acts upon the pinions 35and V36, and holds the pinion 35 firmly in ,contact with segment 24, eiiecting a turn-to-the-right signal While the projection 74 moves on, leaving the member 5() in position for receiving a reverse impulse.

A motor vehicle having completed a turn tothe right, it is necessary to stop and reverse the action of the steering Wheel in order to resume a straight ahead course of the vehicle.

When the steering Wheel 6 is turned, from an extreme right hand position, to the left,

the nro'ection 74 aO'ain a roaches the mem-V l l e ber 50 and passes freely beyond the rounded portion 54, as shown in Figure 2. The proj ection 75, non7 next in order, impinges upon the now presenting part 54 and vertical side of the member 50, and, sliding up on the latter while pushing it out of the Way, must arrive at a position opposite to the presenting opening of the slot 55 and proximally to the convexly rounded portion 59 of the same. The projection y75, proceeding to the left, must enter the slot 5 5 and meet the now obstructing arc 56 and sliding up on the convex surface of the arch, While pushing it out of Way, must arrive between the concave arc 6 0 and the convex arc 56 and, together with the pinion 35, is centered upon the line 3 3 of the plane of symmetry, as shown in Figure 3.

The turn-tofthe-right signal was silenced when the pinion 35 disengaged the segment 24E. Y

The frame plate 30, deriving resilient pressure from the coiled spring lle, urges the pivots of the piuions 35, 36 and 37 in di, rections parallel to the line of the plane of symmetry. The teeth, of each pinion in mesh with the internal gear, act as levers while the gear serres as fulcruni', The par allel pressure upon the levers urges the pinions to revolve upon the internal gear in opposite oirections, and balances the pinion 35 in a position of rest in equilibrium, when the pivot l0 of the same is centered upon the line B-3, and the pinions 36 and 37 are equidistant therefrom. Applying the understood laws of leverage to rotary pinion-gear action and parallel linesof force it can be demonstrated that the pinions 35, 36 and 37 are resiliently mounted upon the internal gear and resiliently locked upon it, and that they can readily be made to revolve upon it by the drive gear 29, the shaft 3l, the switching` member 50, the actuating membert and the steering wheel 6 of a motor vehicle.

The pinions 36 and 3T may enter upon contacts with the segments 22 and 24 respectively when the inembei` 50 is rotated either to the right or to the left to evoke such contacts, and in each instance a turn-to-theright and a turn-to-the-left signal results. This combination of signals can be interpreted as a stop signal.

All signals are silenced by the projection 75, and all signals are set or madel by the projections 73 and 74 by the ordinary han- (lling` of the steering wheel G, but only when turns are actually being performed.

he switching member 50, being mounted upon, and infront of, the steering `column next to the steering wheel of the motor vehicle, is most accessible to the operator of the same, enabling him to set the proper signal by hand, if occasion arises, thereby signalling, to approaching operators of vehicles, his intention to execute a turn at the nearest intersection of his right of way, or of his necessity to stop where he is.

.lt is of importance to know that no `signal conveys a trafc command, except the traiiic ofcerfs whistle.

it signal u pon a motor vehicle is best and most useful as a direction indicator conveying the intention of the operator to make proper use of his rights upon the public highway., and as such it should be welcome and find polite response by and from all lovers of the automobile.

fr' claim:

l, A pinion gear contact electric switch comprising a columnar casing, a cover and a centrally protruding drive gear shaft of insulating material, a rim' surrounding a tubular interior limited by planes vertical to the axis thereof, a switching` member fixed to the shaft, U-sha-ped loops laterally attached tothe rim, a looped strap and a grooved band bent around the housing of the steering column of a motor vehicle, looped end portions of the strap hooked to tl .i shaped loops of the rim, a pin adapted to nx the rim upon the grooved band and the housing, to lie in the plane laid through the anis of the tubular interior, and nuts threaded upon a bolt to tighten the strap upon the housing, rim and vfixation pin, and a i actuating men'iber on the steering wheel of a motor vehicle, rotatably mounted upon the housing of a steering column comprising arcuate plates adapted to ride above the strap and over a sector of the cover of the switch casing, and a plurality of vertical projections of the arcuate plates adapted to impinge upon, push out of the way, and to rotate the switching member, and to cause pinions to connectand disconnect different segments of an internal gear of the switch, when the steering wheel of the motor vehicle is operated while the vehicle pursues its course.

2. A pinion gear contact electric switch comprising a fiat casing, a cover and a centrally protruding revolving shaft of insulating material, a switching member fixed to the shaft, a rim, a plurality of vertical perforations for receiving pins and for. transmitting electrically conducting wires, an electrically conducting internal gear, compris ing a plurality of spaced, insulated segments, fixed to the floor and the walls of the casn ing, spaced and insulated as to the internal gear, and a metallic disk upon the floor, spaced and insulated from a plurality of segments, and having integral extensions adapted to electrically connect opposite, pole segments of the internal gear, and one such segment adapted to be connected by elec A trically conducting wires to a terminal of a battery and totransmitelectric potential to the disk and the opposite pole segment, and a plurality of contact segments interposed between the pole segments.

3. A pinion gear contact electric switch fixed to a stationary housing of the steering column of a motor vehicle, comprising a casing, a segmented internal gear, a plurality of pole segments and interposed contact segments, a central metallic disk, means adapted to connect the diskwith a plurality of opposite pole segments, a plurality of interconnected pivoted pinions lying upon the disk with freedomof motion thereon in In'esh with the internal gear, a central drive gear lying upon the disk with freedom of motion thereon in mesh with the pinions, an insulating shaft fixed to the drive gear, a switching member adapted to be iixed upon the yshaft and conveniently detached therefrom, a metallic frame plate rotatably mounted upon the shaft adapted to maintain the resulting circular pitch line of the combined pinions in relation to the circular pitch line of the internal gear and of the drive gear, and a horizontal member rotatably mounted upon the shaft adapted to be resiliently mounted thereon and to resiliently lock the pinions upon contacts with the internal gear in any position resulting 'lrom the action of the drive gear, and an actuating member rotatably mounted upon the housing' and fixed to the steering wheel adapted to rotate with the steering wheel and to actuate the switching member by automatically selected contacts with the same.

Ll. A pinion gear contact electric switch fixed to a stationary housing of the steering column oli' a motor vehicle, comprising` a casing, a segmented internal gear, pole segments and interposed contact segments, a metallic disk having extensions to connect opposite pole segments, inter-connected pinions in mesh with the internal gear, a drive gear in mesh with the pinions, an insulating,` shaft fixed to the drive gear and a switching member lined thereon, a metallic frame rotatably mounted upon the shaft, and upon the pinions, a resiliently mounted horizontal member rotatably mounted upon the shaft securing close contacts of the pinions upon the .internal gear in all positions due to the action oiI the drive gear, an actuating' member adapted to rotate with the steering` Wheel and to actuate the switching member by automatically selected contacts with the same, and means to charge the pinions with electric potential, to electrically connect and disconnect different segments, one pole segment with the opposite pole segement and with one or with another contact segment or with two contact segments, and means to selectively actuate the switching member either by hand or by automatically selected contacts of the actuating member with the switching member, and means to secure the casing upon the housing against sliding and rotary displacement comprising a looped strapj a iXation pin and a threaded bolt with nuts thereon.

CARL RUDOLPH KRONE.

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